Sometimes it's easy to forget that laws exist and YouTube star Jake Paul is coming to that realization as authorities in Arizona have charged him for crimes in which he participated on his own videos.
In footage that was deliberately posted to Instagram, Jake Paul and a group of associates spent time in the Scottsdale Fashion Square, after hours, while is was being looted. According to Paul and his personal photographer who shot and uploaded the video, their presence in the mall was purely a part of them supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and protesting racial inequality. The recordings themselves were supposedly planned to be used in one of Paul's upcoming videos. The incident upset many Twitter users who felt Jake Paul's interest in the cause contributed less to his presence there than his desire to gain attention from his proximity to the controversy.
Regardless of his motives, even being present in a private business after hours, which Paul and company have admitted was the case on social media, is illegal. As such, Arizona law enforcement officers arrested Paul, charging him with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly. In the video, people other than Jake Paul are seen looting and vandalizing businesses, but it's unclear if any of them were part of Paul's entourage. The Scottsdale PD says it made the decision to arrest those present after reviewing "100s of tips" sent in from bystanders, and Paul isn't the only person facing criminal charges.
Jake Paul Responds to the Incident
In his response to the then-trending #ArrestJakePaul outcry, Paul posted an explanation for his actions. He claimed that he wanted to help the movement by increasing its awareness and documenting his experiences throughout the day as he would any other day. His explanation also includes the information that he was tear-gassed and witnessed other forms of police brutality amid the protest.
Taking it all in stride, Paul posted a response to the news of his run-in with the law, saying "gimme my charges and let’s put the focus back on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter". Paul has a reputation as a controversial figure in the online influencer space and has come under fire in the past for racially insensitive remarks. However, since news of his presence at the Scottsdale Fashion Square broke, Paul has been vocal on social media supporting Black Lives Matter and campaigning for awareness. Two days ago, he also posted an ad-agency-supported "giveaway" on his Instagram account, while also pledging $5,000 to the Los Angeles bail fund.
Source: Scottsdale PD [Twitter]